A new bill filed by State Rep. Jones seeks to create a specialized team to assist local mortuary services during disasters, focusing on victim identification and family reunification, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 991 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Establish DMORT.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill establishes the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) within North Carolina’s Division of Emergency Management, effective Oct. 1, 2025. DMORT is designed to assist local mortuary services in disaster areas through activities like victim identification, recovery, decontamination, and family reunification. The team comprises trained professionals including funeral directors, medical examiners, dentists, and forensic specialists, all overseen by the Division’s Director. DMORT will handle tasks such as tracking human remains, setting up temporary morgues, and providing transportation services for returning victims to their families. Members are granted liability immunity during authorized missions, and the Department of Public Safety, along with the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service, may adopt rules for implementation.
Of the two sponsors of this bill, Jones proposed the most bills (29) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Jones, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 46th House district, replacing previous state representative Ken Waddell.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brenden H. Jones and Mike Colvin | HB 991 | 04/10/2025 | Establish DMORT. |
| Brenden H. Jones, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Mike Colvin | HB 1003 | 04/10/2025 | Board of Funeral Service Modifications. |
| Brenden H. Jones | HB 843 | 04/09/2025 | Lake Waccamaw Dam Repairs. |
| Brenden H. Jones | HB 889 | 04/09/2025 | Lumber River State Park Directives. |
| Brenden H. Jones, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Jeff Zenger, and Mark Brody | HB 831 | 04/08/2025 | Comm. Inspect. Efficiency Act. |
| Brenden H. Jones, David Willis, Destin Hall, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 780 | 04/03/2025 | All Pro Dads & Responsible Fatherhood NC. |
| Brenden H. Jones, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, and Charles W. Miller | HB 695 | 04/02/2025 | Support VIPER/Assist 911 Operations/Dispatch. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Julia C. Howard, Mitchell S. Setzer, and Ya Liu | HB 734 | 04/02/2025 | Modernize Debt Settlement Prohibition. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Allen Chesser, David Willis, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 572 | 03/27/2025 | Veterans/eTMS Pilot Program. |
| Brenden H. Jones, John A. Torbett, Keith Kidwell, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 549 | 03/26/2025 | Clarify Powers of State Auditor. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Kyle Hall, Stephen M. Ross, and Steve Tyson | HB 506 | 03/24/2025 | 2025 State Investment Modernization Act.-AB |
| Brenden H. Jones, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Kyle Hall, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 469 | 03/20/2025 | Restoring Rivalries Act. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Stephen M. Ross, and Steve Tyson | HB 421 | 03/17/2025 | Motor Vehicle Dealers. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Stephen M. Ross, and Steve Tyson | HB 406 | 03/13/2025 | Clarify Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws. |
| Brenden H. Jones, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Dudley Greene | HB 354 | 03/10/2025 | Civil Procedure/Gatekeeper Orders/Database. |
| Brenden H. Jones, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Dudley Greene | HB 355 | 03/10/2025 | OSFM to Study Future of Rural Firefighting. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Frank Iler, Karl E. Gillespie, and Steve Tyson | HB 295 | 03/05/2025 | Req. DOT to Install Prop. Corner Markers. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Celeste C. Cairns, Howard Penny, Jr., and William D. Brisson | HB 296 | 03/05/2025 | Corn Farmer Recovery Act – Phase I. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Brian Echevarria, Carson Smith, and Destin Hall | HB 318 | 03/05/2025 | The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Celeste C. Cairns, Kyle Hall, and Mike Clampitt | HB 276 | 03/04/2025 | Align Benefits for Firefighters with Cancer. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Brian Biggs, Brian Echevarria, and Neal Jackson | HB 244 | 02/27/2025 | Depoliticize Government Property Act. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Allen Chesser, Bill Ward, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 224 | 02/26/2025 | Strengthen Our Tribal Communities Act. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Carson Smith, and Jake Johnson | HB 218 | 02/25/2025 | Emergency Info on DMV Applications. |
| Brenden H. Jones | HB 220 | 02/25/2025 | Tabor City/Certain Public Enterprise Funds. |
| Brenden H. Jones | HB 221 | 02/25/2025 | Tabor City/Railroad Revitalization Project. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Jake Johnson, Jarrod Lowery, and Matthew Winslow | HB 222 | 02/25/2025 | C.O.O.P.E.R. Accountability Act. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Blair Eddins, Jarrod Lowery, and Neal Jackson | HB 171 | 02/21/2025 | Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. |
| Brenden H. Jones | HB 116 | 02/12/2025 | Local Bd. of Ed. Election Changes. |
| Brenden H. Jones, Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, and Jay Adams | HB 35 | 02/03/2025 | Establish Military Appreciation Month. |
